Page 9 of The Need to Know

Regina came back to me, confused. A brow arching upward. “Gusher?”

“You never forget your first squirter,” I joked.

It was a moniker we’d fell upon one night when Cesar was telling me about this woman he’d taken home from the club.

“I turned that shit into a fountain,” he’d said. “Oughta call her Gusher.”

From there it had taken on. Because he’d gone and hit again, and I couldn’t blame him. Some men, they were selfish from various conversations I’d had here and there, not caring if their partners came or not. Me, I made it a goal, because nothing stroked my ego more than watching women become undone and consumed by my dick. Watching their faces twist into anguish as they were in the throes of ecstasy. Causing a woman to squirt? Top-tier shit. I wanted all that glory. All that rain.

Regina rolled her eyes and shook her head. “It’s a wonder either of you get any pussy with your mouths.”

I opened my arms out, emphasizing my stature. “I think we both know I’m nice.”

She smirked as she went behind me, her hand running up my arm until she was massaging my shoulders. “What’s up, Poppa?”

I relaxed and let her work her magic on me. She knew how to make me feel good.

“Mmm.” I hummed, closing my eyes and trying to forget.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” she insisted.

Just like that it all came rushing back. “Pops fucked me over.”

“How so?” She was kneading her fists into my back, trying to work the tension away.

“My birthday Friday.”

She leaned over, her soft lips close to my ear. “I know.”

“And the only thing I want? The club. But he won’t sign it over because he doesn’t think I’m ‘mature’ enough to handle the power,” I told her. I steepled my fingers, staring out at the array of screens before me, watching various girls prep Lovely’s Lounge.

Regina kept on massaging me. “And what are you going to do about it?”

I sighed, thinking of the one thing that could change everything. Once I did it, there was no going back. “Tee been trying to go in with me on a project.”

Regina paused, catching on quick. “Tee Money? Your father’s rival?”

Tee ran another nightclub in Atlanta called Chamber. It was also a happening spot for the young Black social crowd trying to have a good time. He and my father had been rivals since I was a kid. At one point, Tee’s place was more popular, until I grew up and helped my father turn Lounge into BLVCKJVCK. It was a competition, and we were currently number one in town.

A few months back Tee had approached me when I was out running errands. He was old school, simple, and about his paper. He didn’t like my father, but he knew where the creativity lay: me. He mentioned turning Chamber around, or creating something new, and being willing to give me a percentage.

Naturally, back then, I’d said no. But of course, I hadn’t known my father wouldn’t give me what I wanted come all this time later.

“Precisely,” I responded. “At least with Tee I’d have a say, a share.”

Regina went back to work, remaining quiet. It was unlike her, and I knew she was thinking.

“What?” I probed when she’d been silent for too long.

“Is this what you really wanna do?”

It wasn’t, but Pops had forced my hand. After all that I’d done he had the nerve to say I wasn’t ready. That left me with no choice really. I could wait for the throne, or I could make my own. “Don’t have a choice.”

Regina patted my back. “Yeah, you’re not going to do it, though. So, I’m going to let you vent.”

Frustrated, I sighed, fearing she was right. “Why you say that?”

“Because you love your dad, and you’re loyal to your dad, and you’re not about to betray him like this.”